Traditional wingers bombed out: Hynes - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Traditional wingers bombed out: Hynes

By Jim Morton 26/08/2009 07:55:05 PM Comments (0)

Wallabies flyer Peter Hynes believes rugby's traditional winger, a player built on speed and exciting finishing ability, is being bombed out of the game.

Hynes, in line to be recalled to the Australian starting team on Thursday as much as anything for his ability under the high ball, has lamented the current trend towards high-ball kicking which South Africa have mastered with great success.

With the laws adapted this year, wingers must now play as second and third fullbacks as they are tested by garryowen after garryowen with opponents looking for field possession by keeping their kicks in play.

"I think that's becoming a huge part of wing play, the ball in air," Hynes said.

"Teams that kick well, it's very hard to get that ball. Under a good contestable kick you are standing still and the opposition runners are coming through, it's very hard to take."

The laws - which have reverted to full-arm penalties for ruck infringements - have also seen a reduction in tries and a huge increase in penalty goals in the Tri Nations.

With less expansive, ball-in-hand play, wingers are rarely receiving it in space and getting the opportunity to show their try-scoring wares.

Hynes, Australia's rookie of the year in 2008, has shown he can master both aspects of the position but doesn't want to see finishing ability become a lost art.

"From a back three perspective, I'd like to get the ball in hand and see a bit more free-flowing rugby and have it thrown wide but at the same time the South Africans have showed they have a certain game-plan ... and they're winning," he said.

"We expect to see more this weekend, plenty of kicking.

"There's a huge emphasis on territory and penalties and at the end of the day it's winning games."

Hynes' Super 14 coach Phil Mooney agrees "pure finishers" will become a dying breed under the new laws.

"If you're purely a finisher your effectiveness is reduced quite significantly," Mooney said.

Lachie Turner is most in danger of losing his place to Hynes, who would love to mark Springbok speedster Bryan Habana at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

Turner has been impressive for much of the year but gave away the penalty which saw New Zealand snatch a 19-18 victory last weekend while he also made a hash of a grubber that led to South Africa's only try in their 29-17 win in Cape Town.

Hynes has played just an hour of Test rugby this season after undergoing knee surgery late in the Super 14 and then suffering head gashes in his Test comeback against Italy.

"(Turner and Mitchell) have played really well so from a personal point of view it's been frustrating but I'm just happy to be back in the 22 and in contention for selection," he said.

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